Dick Wambach

Dick Wambach

Longtime Ski Valley and Hunt Hollow Patroller Dick Wambach has passed away. Dick was on patrol forHunt Hollow’s inaugural season. With over twentyyears of Hunt Hollow service in the rust and blue, hisbig smile (and bigger cowboy hat) were fixtures onthe mountain in its early years. Much of the successof the Hunt Hollow Patrol today is due to the founda-tion laid by Dick and our other pioneering members.For that, we all owe Dick a debt of gratitude.(Joe Hoff, Hunt Hollow PD)

He left peacefully on 11 December 2014 at the age of 83. Predeceased by his son-in-law Daniel Dismuke. Survived by his loving wife of 60 years, Ann. Children Catherine Dismuke, Susie (Bob) Caspar, Rick (Yvonne), and Nancy (John) Leadley. Grandchildren, Danielle, Hanna and Gia Dismuke; Ryan, Brady and Charlie Caspar, Rachel and Gretchen Wambach; Michelle and Liz Leadley. Brother Dan.

Dick graduated from Cornell University Class of ’53, Phi Beta Kappa, and was a member of the Alpha Delta Phi fraternity, also serving as the chapter Alumni President for several years.

Dick served proudly in the US Army and Reserves retiring as a Colonel with the 98th division (go Iroquois!). Dick was also a 30 year Eastman Kodak Company employee as a Manufacturing Engineering Manager in the Apparatus Division.Dick grew up on the water and was a boater/fisherman/waterskier/yachtsman his entire life. He and Ann cruised the Great Lakes and Eastern Seaboard aboard the Whitecap with family and friends for nearly 30 years. He was a longstanding member of the Rochester Yacht Club, where he was Power Fleet Captain and a mainstay of the annual Club Cruise for many years. He was also a member of the United States Power Squadron, serving as the Commander of the Rochester Squadron, and sharing his expertise inSeamanship, Piloting, and Navigation with other mariners for years.

When the seasons turned the water to snow, Dick could be found on the ski slopes. He dedicated forty-one of his skiing years as a volunteer with the National Ski Patrol, earning a National Appointment. He helped build a ski slope with fellow students at Cornell in the early 1950’s, where he first patrolled. He later patrolled at Ski Valley and completed his patrol service with over 20 years at the Hunt Hollow Ski Club.

We will never forget our family outings with him on the water, on the slopes, in the Adirondacks, at Alden Camps in Maine, and in our own backyard at Kirklees Road.We would like to thank The Friendly Home, especially his crews in Seldon and Lindsay Place, who provided such loving care to him over his last two years.